Piston construction



Gct. 5 1926. ,K 1,601,846

G. S. BOUTELL l PISTON CONSTRUCTION' l Y Filed April 29, 1925 2 Smets-sheen 1 l E75 ,Z *EE y |11 I 53 /l 73 745 05 '11| L f li E -wff f u A nl a i J7 mi 25/ D l L FLEE-o Hmm '-Lj ////////'I 45 Iig 4 Oct. 5 1926.

G. S. BOUTELL PISTON CONSTRUCTION Filed April 29, 1925 2 Sheets-SheetA 2 Patented Get. 5, 1926.

nutren srares teneis PATENT orties.

GLENN lSTANLEY BOUTELL, OF HOLLAND, ll,fIICI-IIVEGA'N.

Pis'ron oonsrnnorron.

Application filed April 29, 1825. .Seria1'Nof2692- A t'uither object of this invention is the .provision of a piston einbodyinga` novel principle of seit expansion, which will do 'a ray with the use or" piston rings andlilre expedients, 'and which is so termed as to pro'- vide an absolute seal vin its operation'in an internal combustion engine cylinder, lto pre'- vent loss ot compression, and to accurately conform in snug iitting andv sealing relation to the cylinder. l

A further object of this invention is the provision vof a novel type of adjustable -ineens i'or maintaining' the piston pinin a drin seating relation with respect to connecting rod and bearings in the piston body,

prevent slap and vibration incident .to operation.V

@ther objects and 'advantages of this invention will be 'apparent during the course or' the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part ot this specification, and wherein similar reference vc designate corresponding parts throughout the several views;

Figure l is a side elevation of the im'- proved type lot piston construction adapted :tor use in internal combustion engines.

Figure 2 is `a cross sectional view :taken through the piston construction substantially lon the line 2 2 ,0f Figure Al.

Figures 3 and are crosssectio'nal views talreii substantially on their respective Ilines in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Figure 5 is asectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 8, andshowing more particularly the construction of the head ot the piston. Y

Figure-5 is a plan View of a. pistoneinliodying the yimproved principle of this 'in vention; this'piston being otthetype generally used in steam engines, and-,other places where a compact piston is desired which is selt-ei-ipfinding;i

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substaii tially on 'theline 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is sectional `View taken substantially on the line SS-ot Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the iniproved piston illustrated in'Figure 6.

fin the drawings, 'wherein for the purpose vor", illustration are shown preferred anc inodiified forms ot the improved piston construction, tlie letter A may generally designate the type 'of piston, adapted -for internal combustionengine use, and' B the type of piston 'adapted for steam engine. use.

Referring to the piston lconstruction A, the saine preferably lcomprises a body 'or 'skirt port-ion 10; crescentshaped gap filling vinernber All cooperativelyv associated with ythe body 10; head ymember 12;k means 13 for maintaining the head .12 in an'asseinbled 'relat-ionen the pist-on body; and anexpanding member l5.Y The body l() of the piston construction A is preferably cast in hollow cylindrical torni, and a plurality of the .same are cast integra1 andV subsequently severed. This body l() comprises -a lower thin walled Vportion 2O and an upper thicker walled portion 22. The upper portion22 is provided with a sub-y stantially crescent shaped 'eccentric seat 2li, formed by throwing the body l0 oil center and cutting into the portion 22 from the outer periphery of the said portion, until such eccentric seat 2d is formed. The eccentric seat 24 extends for substantially onelialt `the circumference ot theV portion 22, and between thev ends of this seat 24, the portion 22 is cut entirely through, to provide tion 22 circular at lits outer periphery, yfor snug fitting in the engine cylinder.

The 'portion 2O is preferably diagonally slotted at from 'the shoulder 31' to the lower redge 3,6 thereof, as is illustrated in Figure l of the drawings, and preferably immediately 'below `the gap 25. Thus, by the provision of the gap 25 and the slot 35 the piston body lO is split from Vend to end,

so that the saine. may expand 'incident toV lll) portion 20, and providing aligning openings il for receiving the wrist pin 42 in diametrical extension across the piston body 10. lt is preferred that the passageways L11 be bored and reamed over sized to compensate for piston body extension or contraction. A circular seat 45 is milled inwardly of the portion 22 from the upper edge 30 thereof, eccentric to the axis of the piston, within which the expansion spring 15 is adapted to be placed. The stock of the body is preferably left at the inside of the body 10 adjacent the juncture of the portions 2O and 21` to provide an inwardly extending annular flange i9 on which the expansion spring 15 rests. ln its resting position on this flange 49 the top edge 50 of the expansion ring is preferably just slightly below the top edge of the piston body 10, so that the top or head 12 may seat on the edge SO in lieu of on the expansion ring 15. This gives an effective seal of the head and body of,the piston and does not obstruct the expansive action of the ring 15.

The expansion ring 15 is preferably split at 55, and diametrically 'opposed to the split the same is preferably provided with a recess adapted to receive a centering pin 56, said centering pin 56 being projected into a suitable recess formed at the inside of the segmental or crescent shaped piece 11, to hold the latter in centering relation to the body of the piston, against liability of its displacement with respect to other` details of the body of the piston.

The crescent 'shaped or segmental shaped. member 11 is relatively wide, and in length extends for an arc of approximately 1800. From its central portion adjacent the pin the same tapers to sharp edges at its outer ends, to give the crescent shape to the same. In its seat 24 in the piston body the outer surface 60 thereof is in concentric relation with the outer surface 61 of the body portion 22 of the piston A, as is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. When assembled in this relation oil grooves 62 are preferably out inwardly of the peripheries 60 and 61 through the portions 11 and 22 of the piston, and lowermost oil grooves 63 ar-e similarly provioed inwardly of the periphery of the portion 2O of the body 10.

The head 12 is preferablyY of disc-shaped formation, and adapted at its outer margins to overlap the edge 30 of the body 10, preferably with a ground joint.

The means 13 for retaining the head 12 in position on the top of the piston body 1U preferably comprises a substantially lishaped yoke 65, including` the leg portions 66, which at their lower ends are apertured at 67 for receiving the piston pin a2 therethrough. This yoke 65 furthermore comprises the connecting portion 68 which holds the.legs 66 in a parallel relation, and this connecting portion 68 is provided with a vertical opening 69 therethrough adapted to slidably receive the shank of a bolt- 70. The

vhead of the bolt 70 extends below the conloclred relation with the head 12, and a cotter pin 76 lmay be used for locking the nut to the shank of the bolt 70, as is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. rfhe upper end of the bolt 70 is provided with a kerf, as is 'llustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, adapted to receive the end of a screwdriver, and the lock nut may have openings therein for a vSpanner wrench. ln this manner, by removal of the cotter pinthe compression of the spring 71 may be adjusted.

Referring to the construction of the type of piston B, the same includes a body structure 80, adapted for support in any approved manner upon the piston rod 81. The body structure 8O is adapted to receive an expansible arrangement consisting of complementary portions 82 and 83, and means Se to effect expansion.

The body 8O preferably comprises the sections 85 and 86, which are similarly formed, each including hub portions 87 provided with passageways 88 therethrough; web portions 89; and rim portions 90 having outwardly extending flanges 91 at the outer edges thereof. rllhe sections 85 and S6 are adapted to be bolted, as at 92, through the web portions 89, and this places the openings 88 in aligning relation for detachably receiving the attaching ends of the piston rod 81. The rim portions 90 are right angled with respect to the portions 89, and the flanges 91 are thus spaced to provide tliY annular recess 92 adapted to receive the cxpansion arrangement comprising the sections 82 and 83 and the expansion rim Annular projections 95 may be formed contiguous with the webs 89, extending` into the recess 92 between the flanges 91, and against which expansion ring 84 bears. The expansion ring 84 is of the split type, being split as at 100, and it is placed in the groove 92 between the flanges 91. This groove is very wide. extending practically the entire width of the body 8O of the piston, with the exception of the flanges 91.

The complementary sections 82 and 83 are of the expansible form and design of the portions 11 and 22 of the form of invention lot) ` rovide a Ofao 1011.

reni-,84e

The secticn-82- is provided Wit-h the outer cylinder engaging circumference 101, and at one side thereof the same is eccentricallycut with respect to the center of the circumference 101'to provide the eccentric seat 102, Which converges into intersecting relation with the inside periphery 103, to rlhe section 82 is thus split,v and from the rap 10e the ends'105 thereof taperin increasing thickness. The section S3 may be referred to as a crescent shaped or vsegi'nental section or member, and it is formed yof an arc substantially 1800, or slightly less, tapering in thickness from in termediate its 'endsl to sha-ro edges -at its outer end. The saine is complementary with the section 82 and adapted to seat in the eccentric seat 102, 'sothatthe outer lsurface thereof is concentric ivith the cylinder engaging surface 101 of the section 82. In this vposition of parts the crescent shaped member 83 extendsacross the gap 104C. The pin maybe carried by thevbody 80,'e21- tending radially therefrom into the groove V92,y and 'through vsuitable openings 116 and 117 respectivelyprovided in the split ring 84 and crescent shaped member 83; said pin 115 extending thru the gap 104 to hold the segmental or crescent shaped member 83 in proper' centered relation With respect to its complementary section 82.

The sections 8 2 and 83 When assembled lin the body ofthe piston are forced into a normallv expanded `relation by the expansion ringua, which is eccentrica-illy disposed in thesection 82, With its axis eccentric to the axis of the piston'B, as is the case With the Vexpansion ring` structure of the piston A.

This Venables 'the piston construction to ybe made of less 'material and lighte'ns the saine and provides an eiicient anddurable construction. `The sections 82 and 83 when assembled are provided with circumferential oil grooves 120. From the foregoing description of vthis invention it will bc apparent that a novel type of piston construction has been provided, which is self eizpanding, and of particular merit in that no open slots or recesses are exposed at the firing side of the piston to occasion loss of compression. The piston construction in addition to these advantages is light in Weight, and very iieXible, and because -of the crescent shaped piece the novel eipansion construction isfenablel vto be provided, with 4the'eXfpansible -prirtion of the piton having a 'which is effectively sealed. The "const uction dispenses With'the use of v'ineiific'ient pistonr'ings. f

.v 1n 'addition to the V-f' regoing advantages, other advantages ivill be tapparent to those skilled in this zart, andit is :also O be noted rthat the upper connecting rod "bearings of an .engine fitted with the style of piston A will k1neverliio'clz 'or 'become noisy, since there rangement of parts may be made to the forms of yinvention herein shown and oescribed, Without departing from the spiritV of the same or the scope 'olf I claim: y

1. In a piston a split bot-y portion having an eccentricseat at the outer surface thereof across said split therein, 'and a substantially crescent yshaped complementa-ry por# tion adapted for cooperation in said eccentricy seat. Q Y

2. Asaii' article of manufacture an eX# pa-nsible piston construction comprising a pair-of complementary sections including a major section hav-ing an eccentric'ally formed exterior seat and being split t0 'provide a gap, onsaid seat, anda minor seg-mental shaped section adapted to bevplaced on said eccentric seat so that the outer surfaces of saidsections form a true circle. l

3. In apistoii construction the 4combina'- tion fofa pair of complementarysections, one of said sections havingthe'ends thereof tapered in diminishing relation and at the free the claims.

.ends thereof providing agap, said section exteriorlythereof having a `seat formed eccentric to the axisof the piston construction,

the other of said sections comprising a subf stantially crescentv Vshaped b'ody adapted to seat on the eccentricseat of the first inentioned section in a complementary lrelation so that lthe outer circumference thereof is concentrically arranged With the exposed outer surface of the first mentioned section. v 1. In .a piston constructionthe combination of 'a 'pair of complementary sections,v 'one of said'sectio'ns having the ends thereof tapered in diminishing relation and at the free ends thereof providing a gap; lsaid section exteriorly thereof having a sea-t formed eccentric to the axis of the piston construction, the other of said vsections comprising` a substantially crescent shaped body adapted to seat on the eccentric seat of the first nientioned Vsection in a complementary relation 6. In a pisto n construction of the' classV- de- YscribedV the combination ofa pair of "sub-vv Astaiitilly`se`igineiital complementary sectionjs les providing a ring shaped structure the outer surfaces of which form a true and unbroken circle, one 'of said sections being a major section whose ends taper to provide a gap, the major section having the ends thereof providing an eccentric seat at the outer surface thereof, and the other section comprising a substantially crescent shaped minor section adapted to be placed on said eccentric`seat across said gap of the major section in sealing relation therewith, and expansion means acting on said sections tending to expand the same.

7. In a piston construction of the class described the combination of a pair of substantially segmental complementary sections providing a ring shaped structure the outer surfaces of which form a true and unbroken circle, one of said sections being a major section whose ends taper to provide a gap, the major section having the ends` thereof providing an eccentric seat at the outer surface thereof, and the other scctioncomprising a substantially crescent shaped minor section adapted to be placed on said eccentric seat across said gap of the major section in sealing relation therewith, a split expan sion ring seated at the inner periphery of said complementary sections tending to expandthe saine, and a pin extending from said split ring through the gap of the major sect-ion into a seat provided in the crescent shaped minor section.

8. A piston comprising a substantially cylindrical shaped body portion split from end to end, said body portion inwardly of the outer surface thereof providing a seat eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of said body and extending across the split of said body, and a substantially crescent shaped complementary gap sealing section seated on said eccentric seat.

9. A piston comprising a substantially cylindrical shaped body portion split from end to end, said body portion inwardly of the outer surface thereof providing a seat eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of said body and extending across the split of said body, a substantially crescent shaped coniplen'ientary gap sealing section seated on said eccentric seat, and means within the body of said piston for expanding the same at lthe gap across which said crescent shaped section seats.

l0. A piston construction comprising a body of substantially cylindrical formation having a seat eccentrically formed inwardly at the outer surface thereof of a width less than the height ofV said piston, said piston being split from end to end extending through said eccentric seat. and a crescent shaped segment adapted to be placed on the eccentric seat in complementary relation with the piston body to seal the split of said piston body across said seat and so that the outer surface of the crescent shaped segment is in concentric relation with the axis of said body. Y

ll. A piston construction comprising a body of substantially cylindrical formation having a seat eccentrically formed inwardly at the outer surface thereof of a width less than the height of said piston, said piston being split from end to end extending through said eccentric seat, a crescent shaped segment adapted to be )laced on tne eccentric seat in complementary relation with the piston body to seal the split of said piston body across said seat and so that the outer Y surface of the crescent shaped segment is in concentric relation with the axis of said body, and a split expansion ring within said piston body acting thereon adjacent said eccentric seat and extending across the gap of the body aojacent said eccentric seat.

l2. A piston construction comprising a body of substantially cylindrical formation having a seat eccentrically formed inwardly at the outer 'surface thereof of a width less than the height of said piston, said piston being split from end to end extending through said eccentric seat, a crescent shapedV segment adapted to be placed on the eccentric seat in complementary relation with the piston body to seal the split of said piston body across said seat and so that the outer surface of the crescent shaped segment is in concentric relation with the axis of said body, a split expansion ring within said piston body actingv thereon adjacent said eccentric seat and extending across the gap of the body adjacent said eccentric seat, and a pin carried by said split expansion ring extending through the gap of the piston body into the crescent shaped segment.

13. ln a piston construction the combination of a body including a lower portion whose outer surface is concentrically arranged with the piston body and including an upper portion having an eccentric seat, said body being split through the lower portion and through the eccentric seat of the upper portion, and a substantially crescent shaped segment for said eccentric seat adapted to fill the gap formed by the split across said eccentric seat.

14. ln a piston construction the combination of abody including a lower portion whose outer surface is concentrically arranged with the piston body and including an upper portion having an eccentric seat` said body being split from end to end thru the eccentric seat of the upper portion, a substantially crescent shaped segment for said eccentric seat adapted to lill the gap formed by the split across said eccentric seat, and means acting within the piston body tending to expand the same at said split at the eccentric seat.

l5. ln a piston construction the combination of a hollow cylindrical shaped skirt comprising a lower split portion of one piece formation and an upper split portion having an eccentric seat inwardly of the outer surface thereof across the split therein extend-` face thereof across the split therein extending from said lower portion upwardly, a substantially crescent shaped complementary section for the upper portion adapted to rest in said eccentric seat across the split of said upper portion, and a split expansion ring acting` in the skirt of said piston at said upper portion.

17. In a piston construction the combination of a hollow cylindrical shaped skirt comprising a lower split portion of one piece formation and an upper split portion having an eccentric seat inwardly of the outer surface thereof across the split therein extending from said lower portion upwardly, a substantially crescent shaped complementary section for the upper portion adapted to rest in said eccentric seat across the split of said upper portion, a split expansion ring acting in the skirt of said piston at said upper portion, and a detachable head for said piston.

18. In a pistonconstruction the combination of a substantially cylindical shaped hollow skirt open atopposite ends thereof, a head for the open upper end of said skirt, a wristpin construction supported by said skirt, a yoke carried by said pin extending upwardly to said head, a bolt adjustably carried by said head extending' into said'k yoke, and a spring under compression between said bolt and yoke for maintaining the head in resilient engagement with said skirt.

19. In a piston construction the combination of av substantially cylindrical shaped hollow skirt open at opposite ends thereof, a head for the open upper end of said skirt, a wrist pin construction supported by said skirt, a yoke carried by said pin exten-ding upwardly from said head, a bolt adjustably carried by said head extending into said yoke, a spring under compression between said bolt and yoke for maintaining the head in resilient engagement with said skirt, said bolt at its upper end extending through the head of said skirt, and being,` exteriorly screw threaded, and a lock nut for engage ment with said exteriorly screw threaded bolt at the outer surface of said head.

GLENN STANLEY BOUTELL. 

